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Posted on Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 2:44 p.m.

NCAA investigating Rich Rodriguez era at West Virginia

By AnnArbor.com Staff

Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez talks to the media at Schembechler Hall prior to Tuesday afternoon, March 23rd's practice.

Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com

West Virginia University officials said Tuesday the NCAA is investigating potential rules violations that occurred in the Mountaineers' football program during Rich Rodriguez's tenure.

ESPN.com first reported the news Tuesday.

Michael Fragale, West Virginia's assistant athletics director for communications, said neither athletics director Ed Pastilong nor football coach Bill Stewart would comment on the NCAA inquiry. He would not specify when NCAA investigators visited the university.

Rodriguez, who faces allegations of five major NCAA violations at Michigan, is speaking to reporters today at 2:45 p.m. This story will be updated.

Comments

mgobluegold

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 9:41 p.m.

I would be very careful if I was wvu with the NCAA, if there were rules violations, it probably was the wvu athletic director breaking them. Coach Rodriguez mentioned earlier about things they told him, then later denied. I hope this investigations uncovers the real culprit here - wvu.

Terry Star21

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 7:16 p.m.

Tater... good to read a intelligent post here, good job, consider this; This post has garnered 14 comments already, the quarterback article today 2 comments, and the spring game 0 comments. Anyone that knows anything about college football and NCAA investigations (whoops that eliminates half the commenter bashers here) knows, that this is just procedure. Any coach in an investigation (UM - 5 football weebies) must be investigated in any past programs that he/she has coached - not entirely sure there is a statutation law (time limit) in NCAA. This will be investigated, take a lot of time, make a lot of press, give fodder to a bunch of loser's for bashing and OOOOHHHHHH Yea - RichRod and UM Football will keep practicing, keep wining games, and go about the business at hand.

Yelmonian

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 5:29 p.m.

Metric SU, We all know who tater is. I just like to ask him to answer a straight forward question, using some basis of logic, and common sense. I figure right now he is sitting at home... scrunched up in front of his computer, typing madly about "misdemeanor state", OSU, or which pro job Izzo will take. I had to question his wisdom. And yes, I know... the editor will take this down. Because even though Tate posts attacks against MSU, OSU, and USC... that have no relevance to the posted article... the editor's don't find issue with that.

BornInA2

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 5:18 p.m.

Of course the NCAA isn't 100% even-handed with these things. Life is not fair, even, or any such thing. You don't have to like it, and that's the way it is. And, there is a very simple way to avoid being singled out: DON'T CHEAT. It's very simple and the UM athletic department has an entire department setup to help the coaches NOT CHEAT. Sadly, when the coach ignored this department for well over a year, bad things happened. The sooner this rotten egg goes away, the sooner we can get back to the team being the focus, rather than the ongoing chaos around their coach.

MetricSU

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 4:49 p.m.

Yelmonian: There was a time when tater would occasionally engage others who disagreed with him in discussion. But with UM's essential implosion in revenue sports, he seems to be too self-conscious to do that now. On the MSU site, he's a hit-and-run poster. He'll write -- only one time, often as the first to post -- something nasty about MSU, or report how MSU will lose in the first round; no, make that the second round; oh, they'll lose for sure in the third round; they have no chance to go the the Final Four; and so on. Or, Izzo is off to the NBA in 2008; no, make that 2009; he's gone in 2010 for sure. Probably this post will be taken down for "attacking" tater. The AnnArbor.com crew should read tater's other posts at mlive sometime (under a different name, of course: spartyno is the latest). Does anyone remember how RR was seen shredding documents upon leaving WVU? I wonder why. And I highly doubt the NCAA is checking up on WVU as part of its UM investigation. It might be that WVU administrators learned some things and called the NCAA in. This is why it is a bad idea to burn bridges when you take another job. WVU might have calculated that it is worth some small sanctions to make RR look bad. But I guess we'll find out.

Yelmonian

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 4:21 p.m.

Tater, Out of curiousity...MSU either kicked off or highly suggested that over half the players involved leave or transfer. The remainder were all banned from a bowl game. Very similar punishment that RR gave to Kevin Grady after DUI convicitions. USC actually self-imposed penalties on their basketball team... and it appears the NCAA may actually do something about the football team. What do you suggest that UM do to a coach they are paying millions, that either was lax or not knowledgable about NCAA rules?

Ignatz

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 3:51 p.m.

Investigation = Conviction? I wish we were in that land called America.

truebluefan

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 3:46 p.m.

I wonder which WVU crony provided the tip this time? Talk about shady. Geez...

MikeAA

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 2:41 p.m.

Guess the Detroit Free Press has a West Virginia desk.

Opalmerr

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 2:36 p.m.

Just another straw. What will be the straw that finally breaks the camels back? What will the bottom line cost be for Michigan? Do your job Mr. Brandon, fire Slick Rick now!